Every once in a while a film comes along like a jolt of energy into the genre it belongs to. 2022’s Barbarian is that film, one that has become a breath of fresh air into horror. The film, which is currently receiving rave reviews, stars Georgina Campbell, Bill Skarsgård, and Justin Long and is directed by the relatively unknown Zach Cregger. Cregger, who outside an obscure 2009 comedy Miss March and a few television episodes, has not directed a big studio film. Barbarian is sure to catapult him into the world of the best modern horror movie directors, and we can not wait to see what he has in mind for his next project.
Without giving away too much plot from the jump, Barbarian tells the story of Tess, who arrives at her Air BnB only to find it occupied by a man named Keith. As the two attempt to figure out what caused their double booking, they decide to both stay in the house overnight before figuring out the issue in the morning. The two quickly learn that the house they are staying in is not what it seems. Complete with a hidden door in the basement leading to a room set up with just a bed and a video camera, they soon find a cavernous set of tunnels hidden even further under the home. What unfolds next is truly horrifying as they encounter they are not alone and are being hunted by what is sure to become one of the scariest movie monsters. What follows is a surprising and thoroughly entertaining movie. Let’s examine what makes Barbarian a breath of fresh air into the horror genre.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
Story Structure
20th Century Studios
Most movies work off of a three-act structure, a beginning, a middle, and an end, in that order. In more specific cinema terms think; rising action, climax, and falling action. Barbarian is no different from most films when it comes to this, but it is its use of the three-act structure that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats, truly not knowing what is to come next. Following the first third of the film and the interaction between Tess and Keith, we are left traumatized by the first appearance of the attacker and the vicious state in which she leaves Keith with Tess’s fate unknown. Then, as if starting an entirely new movie in act two, we are jetted from gloomy Detroit to the sunny coast of California. There we meet AJ, played by Justin Long, a television sitcom actor facing sexual assault allegation sfrom a co-star. This leads to AJ getting his finances in order as he anticipates legal expenses over the allegations. He begins to look into selling his various properties in Michigan, including, you guessed it, the Air BnB being occupied by Tess and Keith. AJ travels to Detroit and quickly finds himself in the same terrifying predicament as his renters. We then enter act three, where all of our characters thus far intersect for a thrilling and bloody finale.
This type of storytelling has certainly been used in films prior to Barbarian, but it is an effective and interesting way to break up a story. The most notable example of this is the Alfred Hitchcock classic Psycho, a piece of cinema history and one of Hitchcock’s best films. We spend nearly the entire half of the film following Marion Crane, our perceived main character. Only to see her dispatched by Norman Bates in the shower of Bates Motel. The ability to tell one successful story in a movie is impressive; to be able to tell two stories that intersect into a satisfying conclusion is another thing completely. Barbarian succeeds in doing just that, keeping the audience interested and invested in the story and the characters.
Expect the Unexpected
Barbarian, like most films, is best seen without viewing a trailer prior to your movie going experience. However, if you did happen to watch the trailer before seeing the film, then you will know that the trailer does not even begin to scratch the surface of what the final product ends up being. Nowadays, movie trailers seem to give away every twist and turn a film has to offer in some offbeat attempt to get people into theaters. Barbarian takes a “less is more” approach in its trailer and marketing. Is Bill Skarsgård’s Keith the killer antagonist of the movie? Is the house haunted by a demon? What is truly lurking below the rental home? I can assure you, if you think you have Barbarian figured out before you walk into the theater, you are dead wrong. It is quite a feat for a movie to be surprising these days, especially a horror movie; this aspect of Barbarian is just one of many that makes it a standout in the genre.
Stylized but Digestible
20th Century Studios
Yet another thing that Barbarian brings to the screen that isn’t seen in a lot of mainstream horror films, is style. The film does this through its direction, cinematography, editing, and score. While some films may go over-the-top with their stylization making it inaccessible for all audiences, Barbarian uses style in a digestible way. Whether that be through its use of lighting and a dark hallway as the attacker is lit sporadically by the flashlight of Justin Long’s AJ, or a synth heavy score increasing as the tension of the film grows, or the color pallet altering between dark and dreary modern day Detroit and colorful, vibrant vintage Detroit. Where a lot of modern day horror movies get lost in their darkness, Barbarian uses darkness when it is necessary and light when it is necessary. This helps to create a fresh feeling in both mood and tone as it changes throughout the movie.
Another style used to perfection in the film is the blending of horror and comedy. While it is certainly not the first film to do this, see Sam Raimi and some of his grooviest films. Barbarian is definitely a more modern example of using this technique successfully. Often times the humor in modern horror movies take the film too far in one direction without balancing what the movie truly is. There is a particular scene in Barbarian that features Justin Long’s character discovering the horrifying underground room and tunnels. Rather than run away in terror, he begins to Google search whether he can include the newfound rooms in the square footage when selling the property and proceeds to pull out a tape measure and begin measuring. It is a spark of welcome and unexpected comedy in what has thus far been a hellish ride. Where this comedy succeeds is in the tension the audience feels even while laughing. The comedy of AJ measuring the mysterious room and caves is fantastic. However, unlike him, the audience knows something is lurking down there with him, and it is only a matter of time until it finds him. This is the perfect blending of comedy into horror.
The long and short of it? Try to avoid the trailer if at all possible, and watch Barbarian; it will be the breath of fresh air you are looking for.
